After World War 2 the Nazis where put on trial for war crimes. Many of them used the excuse that they were “just following orders”. Although the scale isn’t as great are WWII members of the CIA who tortured and killed prisoners are using the same excuse – I was just following orders. If we don’t prosecute these people then it sends a message to the CIA that they can break any laws without having to pay a price. That is the wrong message.

I want CIA members to know that torture and murder are wrong no matter if the president is ordering you to break the law or not. In the future if a criminal president orders the CIA to torture and murder I want the to have a good reason to say, “NO – this is wrong and I will not do it!”

Reader Comments

Forget the CIA. I want to see the real criminals stand for their crimes: Bush and Cheney. It’s obvious the American public hasn’t the stomach for such a thing, so send them to the Hague instead. Or, better yet, just put them on a one-way flight to Yemen. That way, they can experience the “compassionate” torture they’ve come to love, and at the hands of people who really enjoy their work. Aw, heck, send the CIA criminals too.